Good morning!
Dean Gong reminded you how important it is to stay healthy by eating good foods and getting regular exercise. When I was your age, I liked to run. In addition to being a good way to get physical exercise, running offers the benefit of improved mental health. Many find a good run to be a way to relax. Running also provides an opportunity for competition. Competition is good in that it challenges you to be your best. In some ways your university life is like running a race. You will compete against your classmates, students from universities across this nation, and most importantly yourself. I would like to offer you some advice for this race.
First, get a good start. The start is so important in any race. The starter raises his gun into the air and fires. The sound spurs the runners into immediately action. You may not know it but a race began when you walked through the gates of this university. Time lost at the beginning is difficult to make up, so if you haven’t made a serious start, do it now.
Secondly, set a good pace. The pace is how fast or slow you will go. Your pace may be different from mine
and your classmates and that's ok. Find a pace that is good for you and maintain it. Someone has said that the race belongs to the swift, but this is a long race and the one who sets a good pace and maintains it will
be a winner.
Thirdly, keep focused. Don't lose site of your goal. You want to leave this university stronger, wiser, and better than you are now. Many distractions will try to get you off this path. Part-time jobs are ok, but remember that your university life is a time of focused learning. There will be a lifetime to work a job, but only a few years for concentrated study. Don't let a job keep you from your goal. Boy friends and girl friends are good. Get one or maybe two or three, but don't let
them keep you from your goal. Try to develop friendships that will last a lifetime for those are the ones that will help you attain your goals.
Finally, finish strong. Many races are won at the very end. Let all that you learn and experience grow
within you so that at the end you will be able to give your best effort. Don't hold back. Give your all and
you will be amazed at the result.
I look around the room and see so much potential. Potential is what you can be, but not necessarily what
you will be. In a normal race there can be only one winner, but in the race of your university life, there will be many winners. Will the winners be those who chose to sit in the front this morning? Will it be those who are sitting in the back or those in the middle? The winners will be those who get a good
start, who set a good pace, who keep focused, and who finish strong. If you do these things you can leave this university as a winner, one who is stronger, wiser, and better than when you came. Imagine leaving this university and making a positive difference in your family, hometown, and nation.
As you run your race, there will be people to cheer for you and encourage you on your way. Hear the voices of your family, classmates, and teachers as they stand and shout, “jiā yóu, jiā yóu, jiā yóu!” and when you finish your time at this university, we will celebrate together.
Michael Potts
9-16-15